my regular season prediction.......

with the completion of my positional write ups and a good look at what we'll be looking at for roster possibilities, I now turn my attentions to the schedule and what our match ups look like this season along with what our season outlook may hold....... that said, here goes:

overview:

after looking at the potential we have on the roster, I can't help but marvel at exactly how easy our schedule actually is..12-4 or even upwards of 14-2 are not totally out of the question..... of course, our potential won't mean a thing unless the players realize that potential.. the biggest question mark will of course be the o-line, but if they can control the front, then we'll be unstoppable.. the other question mark will be the cb's, and olb's, but if they are all the real deal, then the sky is the limit....

schedule:

wk. 1 --- Cleveland: the browns brought in a lot of new faces, some of which may just make noise in the future.. but for now, it's far too early to expect that type of development from their young players... this one I don't even see as being close

wk. 2 --- baltimore: these guys get up for us, and we get up for them.... this will be a knock down drag out regardless of where either of our teams are at.... that said, I don't see the ravens doing much in this game, especially with ray rice more than likely out

wk. 3 --- Carolina: their defensive front 7 will be a real test, but their secondary is still suspect, and they're still breaking in a new #1 receiver.... add in the gutted o-line, and we're looking at another game we should win fairly handily

wk. 4 --- tampa bay: strong d-line and one strong lber, with a still learning secondary and a suspect o-line equals yet another we should pull out, so long as we keep their running game in check

wk. 5 --- Jacksonville: do I even need to comment on this one... these guys are no where near ready to challenge us.... the only intrigue here is ziggy hood's return

wk. 6 --- Cleveland: see wk. 1

wk. 7 --- Houston: of course containing the front 7 will be a major problem, jj watt, clowney, merciless etc.... the best o-line's would be hard pressed to contain them, and we won't be any different.... our saving grace here would be their instability at qb... their offense still has to put points on the board themselves.. we can do this

wk. 8 --- Indianapolis: their offense is scary (particular the passing game), but their o-line is still suspect, and the defense, minus Robert mathis is still weak... this game scares me a little, and i'll take the conservative approach and take a close loss here

wk. 9 --- Baltimore: i'm pretty sure we sweep these guys this yr., even though it'll be close

wk. 10 -- n.y. jets: we own these guys, despite the upgrades

wk. 11 -- Tennessee: their offense will struggle, despite the upgrades on their o-line.... I also don't see their defense as being much of a threat.....

wk. 12 -- bye

wk. 13 -- new Orleans: i'm not sure any defense can fully shut these guys down.. this is also the first game we face keenan lewis in a different uniform.... i'll give this one to the saints, although this could go either way

wk. 14 -- Cincinnati: another team we pretty much own, and I don't see that changing this yr.

wk. 15 -- Atlanta: another one we should pull out, but their receivers are fierce, as is their secondary... our mid range game will make the difference

wk. 16 -- Kansas city: stopping their olb's are going to be nearly impossible, but if we keep them in coverage, we have a good chance.... there's no part of this game that won't be tough, and it may just come down to our kickers.... i'll give this one to kc, just to be humble

wk. 17 -- Cincinnati: see wk. 14

final record: 13-3

 

sweep the division = first round bye = afccg

sounds good

 

we need to put pressure with the olb , if they perform at high level we are dangerous

 

I echo Blast. I count 4 likely losses. And we'll probably drop at least one unexpected game...we're good for one of those every season. I'd say no better than 11-5. Wouldn't be shocked if it was 8-8 again. Counting on lots of youth this year, never know wht you'll get in that scenario.

 

I want to see the results of camp along with the finale of peseason before throwing any numbers out for the season. We have youth - speed and much potential but not sold on the idea they will be playmakers in their first yr. It's a challenge walking into the NFL with limited experience i'm sure JJ would agree. I will reiterate we go beyond 8-8. This is where the clairvoyance of the crystal ball comes in handy.

 

At this point, looking at the schedule, I'm currently thinking Pittsburgh with go 10-6, maybe 11-5.

 

I'd like to see what Pre-seson games bring. I think Pre-season became a whole lot more important to me last year, after we were 0-4 4. Then started the season 0-4.

But, from what I see so far, I'm seeing 10-6, but 11-5 or 9-7 wouldn't be hard to imagine either.

 

BLAST.. again i have to agreee at least with the first part of the post .. the steelers rarely ever have an EZ game... how about oakland the last couple years.. seemed as an EZ game.. how did they work out? just NO easy .. as i have said a million times.. we rarely win big.. rarely lose big... 4 points or less will determine over half the games this year.. 13-3 is about 3% .. 11-5 maybe .. 10-6 a lot more possible than 11-5.. and i think 6-10 has a higher chance than 13-3 ... much higher .. again 6-10 or 10-6 or anything in between wouldnt shock me ..

HINES

 

dead on ..

HINES

 

we're also good for at least one unexpected win every yr....... let's also not forget the win one for coach noll chants that will inevitably come this yr...... emotion can carry a team to unexpected lengths

 

So much will depend on Ben. The pieces around him are in place. This season is in Bens hands.

 

14-1 going in to the last week (loss to New Orleans), and they'll have homefield sewn up. Ben will play a series and Grad will come in and light up the Bengals throwing for 350+ yards and 4 td's.


Okay, I can dream can't I?

 

I stay away from predictions and as much as I would like to say there are easy wins in the schedule I can't help but look at some games we should have won but somehow lost. I don't know if it is all the players or the coaching but it seems when we score the defense quits and when the defense is playing lights out the offense is extremely poor. This team has done this the last 5 or 6 years but over the last 2 it was worse because we weren't pulling out those games in which we let the other team back in when we dominated early. I'm optimistic but I'm also superstitious enough that I fear a jinx if I make an early prediction for a playoff run.

 

First of all, I tend to agree with B&Gs assessment. It's a best case scenario, but it's far from beyond the reaches of the imagination.

Here's another way it could play out, of course:

If I were a betting man, I'd go with B&Gs predictions, though.

 

My guess is we will be 10-6. We will win a game we shouldn't and lose one we shouldn't. I would love to see us get a lead and then grind out the win on the ground. The hope is our young guys develop quickly and if that is the case we could be in for a special year. If they don't we are looking at an 8-8 season more than likely. I just hope we tear Johnny Football's head off the two weeks we face him. Sick of hearing about him.

 

12-4 Worse case 11-5

 

OUT? what chu talkin bout elvis?